Bag making machine and method



Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1961 I l I l l ---T ------L INVENTOR Ber/Te 50/0 07 BY WW? 1/ M ATTORNEY 1963 B. c. GOLDEN 09,394

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 3, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR 56% 6 50/6 81? ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN 3,109,394

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April :5. 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet s 7 5/ f6 63 5 62 6/ /ll/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN 3,109,394

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 3. 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 T- I .u -5

INVENTOR flerflk 6'. Co/a en ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 3. 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 6' 6 B /7g C. 60/0 61? Ffi BY %Mw? ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN 3,109,394

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 5, 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Ber/Fe 6'. 6'0/aen BY WMMfl Y.

ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN 3,109,394

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 5. 1961 14 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 5, 1961 f I66 0 I62 u H8 IJ'o i /45 INVENTOR Ber/:2 C. G o/Jen 777 fi m ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 5, 1961 INVENTOR Ber/7e C 60/0 02 77fwmnf%m ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 Filed April 5, 1961 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Ber/7e 4. Jon/en ATTORNEY Nov. 5,1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE .AND METHOD l4 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed April 3. 1961 Berf/k Z. 6o/d en ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND ms'mon 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed April 5, 1961 m T 3 m6 6 .6 J E B ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed April 5, 1961 R m m V m Berfie 6'. 60/062 ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 B. c. GOLDEN BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD l4 Sheet-Shee't 14 Filed April 3, 1961 INVENTOR Ber/[e C Go/a en ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,109,394 BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Bertie C. Golden, Richmond, Va., assignor to Millhiser Bag Company, Incorporated, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,073 37 Claims. (Cl. 112-10) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bag making methods and machines, and in particular the invention concerns itself with methods and machines for manufacturing cloth or other fabric bags which are equipped with drawstrings to serve as closures for their mouth portions.

Some conventional machines of this type are adapted to form the bag and provide the same with a hem at its mouth to receive the drawstring which is subsequently installed by a separate machine known as the bag stringing machine. Some effort has been made in the past to combine the bag making and stringing operations into one, that is, into a combined operation capable of being carried out by one machine rather than two, and an important object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, efficient and dependable method and machine whereby such a combined operation may be carried out to produce a drawstring-equipped bag.

Briefly, the method in accordance with the invention includes the steps of operating on a running web of cloth or other fabric so as to form a hem at one longitudinal edge thereof, inserting a drawstring into the hem while it is being formed and, at predetermined intervals, to project the drawstring outwardly from the hem to form pairs of loops which are coordinated with the running length of the web in such manner that when the web is subsequently cut into individual bag units, the loops are in a position to be withdrawn and form free ends of the drawstring embedded in the hem at the mouth of the bag.

More specifically, my improved invention relates to an improved method of making bags with a drawstringequipped mouth, comprising the steps of forming a hem at one longitudinal edge of a running web and inserting a drawstring into the hem with the drawstring having pairs of loops projecting outwardly from the hem at spaced intervals, cutting the web transversely between the loops in each pair to provide individual lengths of web each having a drawstring loop adjacent its transversely cut edge, and doubling the individual web lengths upon themselves to form individual bag units each having superposed transversely out side edges, free bottom edges and drawstring-equipped mouth edges with supcrposed loops of the drawstring disposed adjacent said side edges.

The invention also comprises suitable mechanism for carrying out the aforesaid method. The mechanism, which may be referred to as the hem forming, drawstring inserting and loop forming mechanism of the bag making machine, is disclosed in this application and also in my co-pending application Serial No. 56,914, filed September 19, 1960, of which application this application is a continuation-in-part. Moreover, the present invention also embodies certain other mechanisms, hereinafter described, which are disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,962,989, dated December 6, 1960, and in my co- 3,100,304 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 pending application Serial No. 740,469, filed June 6, 8, now Patent No. 3,008,436, dated November 14, 1961, of which application this application is also a continuation-in-part.

In addition to the hem forming, drawstring inserting and loop forming steps and mechanism, the bag making machine herein disclosed includes a mechanism which operates on the'drawstring and loop-equipped running web to cut the same transversely into individual lengths and to fold or double such lengths upon themselves to form individual bag units, each such unit having a drawstring-equipped mouth, one folded side edge, and free or unsecured edges at the other side edge and bottom edge. The machine provides means for stitching or sewing the free side and bottom edges of each bag unit, and a mechanism for pulling out the free ends of the drawstring loops from the hem. Moreover, means are provided for inserting a tag or label into each cut web length while it is being folded or doubled upon itself to form the bag unit, such a tag or label being inserted so that it is disposed in the bottom portion of the bag unit and secured therein by the seam or stitching at the bottom edge of the bag. Thus, when the completed drawstring and tag-equipped bag emerges from the machine, it needs only to be turned inside out to provide a finished bag with an external tag stitched to its bottom edge and a drawstring-equipped mouth.

From the method standpoint my invention further comprises the method of making a bag with a drawstring equipped mouth, comprising the steps of forming a hem at one longitudinal edge of a running web and inserting a drawstring into the hem with the drawstring having pairs of loops projecting outwardly from the hem at spaced intervals, cutting the web transversely between the loops in each pair to provide individual lengths of web each having a drawstring loop adjacent its transversely cut edge, doubling the individual web lengths upon themselves to form individual bag units each having superposed transversely cut side edges, free bottom edges and drawstring-equipped mouth edges with superposed loops of the drawstring disposed adjacent said side edges, continuously stitching together the free bottom edges of the bag units, severing the stitching of the bottom edges between adjacent bag units, pulling out free ends of the drawstring loops from the hems of the bag units, and stitching together the cut side edges of the bag units.

With the foregoing objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention. will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the hemmed web with inserted drawstring forming pairs of loops;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, showing the arrangement of one of the drawstring loops;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of one of the bag units cut away from the web and partly broken away to show a tag therein;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the bags with the drawstringloops pulled out;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the ber;

7 taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in FIG- URE FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the drawstring inserting and loop forming portion of the mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-8 in FIG- URE 7;

V sectional view of the needle;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 13-13 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14'is a fragmentary side elevational view of the loop forming member actuating means;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 15-15 in FIG- URE l4;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 16-16 in FIG- URE 15; 7

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 17-17 in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary plan View showing an initial step in the drawstring loop forming operation;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary plan view showing a second step in the loop forming operation;

FIGURE-2O is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 20-20 of FIGURE 19 and showing raising of the drawstring by the loop forming member;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary plan view showing a further step in the loop forming operation, the first loop of a pair being already formed on the loop forming memher and the second loop being formed;

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary plan view showing a further step in the loop forming operation, with both loops of a pair already formed on the loop forming member; 7 7

FIGURE 23 is .a fragmentary plan view showing a still further step in the loop forming operation, with the loop forming member withdrawn from the loops;

FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 24-24 in FIGURE 23 and showing one of the formed loops being sustained out of possible interference with the loop forming mem- FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the web cutting and folding mechanism of the machine in a position where the web has been drawn downwardly and is being cut;

FIGURE '26 is a View, similar to FIGURE 25 but showing the cut web being folded;

FIGURE 27 is a view, similar to FIGURES 25 and 26 but showing the mechanism in position to pull down the web for the next cut;

FIGURE 28 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 28-28 in FIGURE 25;

FIGURE 29 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the, plane of the line 29-29 in FIGURE 25; 7

FIGURE 30 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail,

taken substantially in the plane of the line 3ll-3tl in FIGURE 25;

FIGURE 31 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the web pulling means;

FIGURE 32 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 32-32 in FIGURE 31;

FIGURE 33 is a fragmentary plan view of the web ,folding means;

FIGURE 34 is a fragmentary plan view of the bag unit sewing, conveying and drawstring end pulling mechanism;

FIGURE 35 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 35-35 in FIG- URE 34;

FIGURE 36 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 35-36 in FIGURE 34;

FIGURE 37 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 37-37 in FIGURE 34;

FIGURE 38 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 38-38 in FIGURE 37;

FIGURE 39 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 39-39 in FIGURE 38;

FIGURE 40 is an enlarged sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 40-40 in FIGURE 38;

FIGURE 41 is a fragmentary plan view showing the manner in which free ends of the drawstring loops are pulled out of the herns;

FIGURE 42 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the passage of the web through the machine and the various operations performed upon the web;

FIGURE 43 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the bag units prior to side stitching; and

FIGURE 44 is a top plan view on a reduced scale, showing the general arrangement of the machine.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGURES 1-4 inclusive, the reference numeral 30 designates a running length of a web of cloth or other fabric, which has been formed at one longitudinal edge thereof with a hem 31 secured by stitching 32. A drawstring 33 is contained within the hem 31 and projects outwardly therefrom at predetermined intervals to form pairs of loops 34, it being noted that the loops in each pair are closely spaced and so located in relation to the running length of the web that when the web is cut along the lines 35 to form individual bag units 36, the cutting lines 35 pass between the loops in each pair. After being cut from the Web, each of the bag units 36 is doubled or folded upon itself along a fold line 37' as shown in FIGURE 3 so that the two loops 3 4 of the bag unit become juxtaposed, being located adjacent the cut edges 35 of the bag unit, which #Ollt edges are subsequently sewed together by the stitching 37, as shown in FIGURE 4. The free edges 38 at the bottom of the bag are also stitched together as indicated at 39, and if desired, a suitable tag 40 may be inserted in the bag and secured therein by the stitching 39, so that when the bag is sewn and turned inside out, the tag 40 projects from the bottom of the bag and may be used for inscription or other indicia to identify the contents of the bag when the latter is placed in use. It will 'be noted that cutting of the web along the lines 35 also *severs the drawstring 33 at points between the loops 34 in each pair, thus leaving free drawstring ends 34a at the loopsas shown in FIGURE 3. These free ends are subsequently pulled out so that the loops 34 disappear by being transfo-rmed'into free end portions 34b of the drawstring as shown in FIGURE 4 and, by pulling on these free end portions of the string in the well known manner, the mouth of the bag may be contracted into a closure' The bag making machine in accordance with the invention includes a mechansrn for forming the hem 31 on a running length of the web, inserting the drawstring 33 into the hem while it is being for-med, and periodically projecting the drawstring outwardly from the hem to form the pairs of loops 34. The machine also has means for cutting and folding the web into individual bag units simultaneously with the cutting of the drawstring, inserting the tag 49, providing the stitching 37 and 39, and pulling out the free ends 34a of the drawstring loops, so that the bags emerge from the machine in the condition shown in FIGURE 4, in readiness to be turned inside out. The aforementioned hem forming, drawstring inserting and loop forming mechanism will first be described with reference to FIGURES -24 of the drawings.

This mechanism is designated generally by the reference numeral in FIGURE 5 and embodies in its construction a freely rotatable roller 46 supported by a shaft 47 journalled in suitable bearings 4% on the frame of the machine. The web 3%, after unwinding from a reel, passes over the roller as and engages a flange 49 on the roller, whereby one longitudinal edge portion of the web is folded upon itself to form what subsequently becomes the hem 31. The web is pulled over the roller 46 by a drive roller 5% carried by a shaft 51 journalled in bearings 52 on the machine frame, the shaft 51 and roller being driven by suitable gearing 53. The mechanism 45 is located between the rollers 46 and 50 for operation on the running web, and after passing over the roller 5d, the web travels to the other aforementioned components of the machine where it is cut and folded into individual bag units, stitched, et cetera, as has been already outlined.

The mechanism- 45 is supported by a suitable platform 54 which is disposed at one side of the web and also extends under the web to underlie its hemmed edge portion. Moreover, the platform 54 is provided integrally with an extension arm 55 which extends under the web and projects beyond its unhemmed edge 38, as will be clearly apparent, the platform 54 together with the extension arm 55 thus preventing the stretch of the web between the rollers 4 6, 50 from sagging. A guide block 56 is secured to the platform 54 by suitable screws or bolts 57 and, as is best shown in FIGURES 9 and 20, is provided with a passage 58 through which travels the folded longitudinal edge portion of the web on its way to a sewing machine 59 which makes the stitching 32 to form the hem 31. As best shown in FIGURE 9, the block 56 has a rib 60 which is disposed in the passage 58 and serves to keep the folded over edge of the web spaced above the web itself to accommodate a needle 61 hereinafter described, it being understood, of course, that the folded over edge is subsequently brought in contact with the body of the web by the sewing machine 59. The block 56 is provided with an extension piece 62 having a recess 63' at the underside thereof through which the needle 61 freely extends. The needle has a piercing end 64 and is rigidly mounted at its other end as at 65 in the lower end portion of one arm 66 of an inverted U- shaped yoke 67 (FIG. 6). The latter also includes a bight portion 68 land a second arm 69 which is secured as at 70 to a reciprooable piston rod 71 of a doubleacting air cylinder 72, so that when the cylinder is energized, a reciprocating movement is imparted to the yoke 67 and needle at. The needle normally occupies the position shown in FIGURES 5 and 18 wherein its piercing end 64- rides inside the fold of the web edge 31. However, upon energization of the cylinder 72, the needle is projected outwardly through the fold of the web to the position shown in FIGURE 19, for example. The cylinder '72 is so quick acting that the projection and retraction of the needle is almost instantaneous and does not materially hinder the running movement of the web.

The needle 61 is provided with a longitudinal bore or passage 73 (FIG. 12) having an outlet opening 7d adjawardly through the opening 74 and into the fold of the web during formation of the hem 31, as illustrated in FIGURE 18. A guide pin 75 is carried by the extension piece 62 and provided with a groove 76 best shown in FIGURE 11, whereby to guide the drawstring 33 while it is being embedded in the hem. The piercing end portion of the needle 61 is provided with a laterally recessed or flattened region 77 (FIGS. 12 and 13), the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. In its pro jected position shown in FTGURE 19, the flattened region 77 of the needle is oriented in the direction of travel of the web and the projected needle is received in a groove or channel 73 formed in a needle guide block 79 which is secured to the aforementioned block 56 by suitable bolt means 8%, the block 79 having a depending portion 7% in which the groove 78 is formed. An upstanding guide plate or element 31 is provided on the platform 54- at the fold of the web slightly in advance of the presser foot of the sewing machine 59 so as to keep the hem ahead of the presser foot from buckling or shifting laterally outwardly.

Formation of the drawstring loops is effected in coordination with the reoiprocable needle 61 by a hook-shaped loop forming member 82 which is rigidly secured to a collar 83 carried by a rod 84 (FIG. 5). The latter is slidably and rotatably mounted in a tubular sleeve 85 which is secured to a suitable machine frame member 86 and the loop forming member is provided with a tapered end portion 82a which is movable toward and away from the block 79 when the rod 84 is reciprocate-d in the sleeve 85. The rod 84 may also partly rotate in the sleeve 85 whereby the tapered end 82a of the member 82 may be raised and lowered relative to the needle 61.

As is best shown in FIGURES 5 and 14-16, the rod 84 has rigidly mounted thereon, as by a set screw 37, a boss 83 provided with an arm 8%, the latter being equipped with a bolt Qt} which is movable in an 'arcuate slot 91 formed in a sector 92 affixed to a boss 93, rotatably positioned on the rod 84 in abutment with the boss 88. The bolt 93] carries a compression spring 94, a washer 95 and a nut 96 whereby the sector 92 and the arm 89 are urged into frictional engagement, yet permitting oscillatory movement of the arm 89 relative to the sector 92 within the limits of travel of the bolt 96) in the slot 9].. A link 97 is pivoted at one end thereof as at 98 to the boss 93 while its other end is pivoted as at 99 to an oscillatory lover or arm 1M, which is actuated by a suitable cam mechanism of the machine.

As is best shown in FIGURE 6, the portion of the loop forming hook member 32 which is secured to the collar 33 has rigidly secured thereto 'an upstanding strap 161 which is rockable from side to side by a pair of dogs 102, N3 adjustably mounted on the bight portion 68 of the yoke 67. With the needle 61 retracted and the dog 102 in engagement with the strap 1G1, the rod 84 which carries the hook member 82 is rotatably journaled in the sleeve 85 so that the tapered end 82a of the hook member 82 normally rests on the platform 55 below the groove or channel 78 in the needle guide block 79. However, when the cylinder 72 actuates the yoke 67 so as to project the needle 61 into the groove 78 in the block 79, the dog 102 is disengaged from the strap 161 and the dog 103 comes in engagement with the strap, causing the same to rock and impart partial rotation to the rod 84, thus raising the tapered end 82a of the hook member 82 relative to the projected needle, as illustrated in FIGURE 20. This movement is facilitated by the aforementioned movement of the bolt 99 in the slot 931 and the frictional engagement of the sector 92 with the arm 89 will sustain the tapered end 82a in its raised position until retraction of the needle 61 when the dog 1&2 again comes into engagement with the strap N31 to rock the rod 84 to its initial position. Apart from its raising and lowering movement as above explained, the hook member 82 is movable toward and away from the block 7 9 by action of the lever through the medium of the link 97, boss 93, sector 92, arm 89 and boss 88. The loop forming hook member 82 is movable rearwardly, that is, in the direction of travel of the web, well behind the sewing machine 59 as shown in FIGURE 23, and an upstanding pin 1% is provided on the platform 54 at the fold of the web at a point slightly in advance of the rearmost position of the member 82, as shown. The purpose of this pin will be hereinafter explained.

The operation of the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGURES l824.

With the web 31 running over the rollers 46, t} and the hem 31 being formed on the web, the needle 61 is initially in its retracted position as shown in FIGURE 18 so that its piercing end 64 is within the fold of the web and the drawstring 33 passes through the bore 73 of the needle, through the outlet opening 74 and through the groove 76 of the drawstring guide '75 into the hem. Movement of the arm 1% and rod 84 causes the loop forming hook member 82 to advance toward the block 79 with the tapered end 82a of the member E52 lowered to the platform 54. At that point, the cylinder '72, acting through the medium of the yoke 67 (FIG. 6), projects the needle 61 through the fold of the hem into the groove 78 in the needle guide block 78 to the position shown in FIGURE 19, with the drawstring 33 :feeding through the bore 73 of the needle so that a portion of the drawstring is stretched at the outside or" the needle between the opening 74 and an aperture formed in the fold of the web by the piercing end of the needle during its projection. This is clearly shown in FIGURE 19 and it will be noted that the stretched portion of the drawstring, as mentioned above, is disposed adjacent and extends longitudinally of the flat region 77 at the outside of the needle.

By this time, engagement of the dog 1623 with the strap 101 causes the tapered end 82a of the member 02 to be raised relative to the needle and during its raising movement the member end 82a engages the aforementioned stretched portion of the drawstring at the outside of the needle, raising the same to the position shown in FIGURE 20. The fiat region 77 of the needle permits the member end 82a to come sufficiently close to the needle to engage the drawstring as mentioned above. As the needle is subsequently retracted to its initial position through the same aperture in the fold of the web through which it was projected, the drawstring forms the loop 34 which is caught on the tapered end portion 82a of the member 82 and slides rearwardly thereon with the running movement of the web while the member 82 remains relatively stationary. 'In so doing, it is to be noted that the frictional engagement of the sector 92 and arm 89 sustains the member 82:: in its raised position during the brief interval of retraction of the needle 61, whereupon the member portion 82a is lowered to the platform by contact of the dog 102 with the strap 1 when the needle is retracted.

The second loop in the pair is formed in the same manner as the first loop and also assumes its position on the member 82, with both loops sliding rearwardly thereon as illustrated in FIGURE 22 while the member 82 remains relatively stationary and the needle is retracted. By the time the first of the two loops approaches the pin 1%, the rod 84 is slid by the lever 160 so as to move the member 82 away from the block 79 to the ultimate position shown in FIGURE 23. The member 82 travels rearwardly at a faster rate than the running movement of the web and, as a result, the member portion 82a is withdrawn irom both loops and engagement of the loops with the pin 18 3- causes them to be raised above the member 82 so that they do not become entangled therewith When the member subsequently moves forward for the next cycle of operation. As shown in FIGURE 5, the axis of the rod 34 is pref erably somewhat oblique toward the web rather than being parallel thereto, so that when the member 82 moves rear- 665 wardly away from the block 79, it comes closer to the web than when it is at the block. As a result, the loops formed on the member becomes somewhat slackened to facilitate withdrawal of the member 82 therefrom at the end of the loop forming operation.

Attention is now drawn to FIGURES 25-44 of the drawings, which illustrate the mechanism for cutting the drawstring-equipped web and folding the same into individual bag units, including the means for inserting the tags or labels 4% (see FIG. 42). This mechanism is disposed between transversely spaced sides 111) of the machine frame below the level of the web drive roller 50, so that after passing over the roller St the web travels downwardly to the cutting and folding mechanism. The drive roller S ll cooperates with a top roller 111 (FIG. 25) on a shaft 112, the two roller shafts 51 and 112 being operatively connected by gearing and the web 39 passing between the [rollers so as to be positively driven and propelled thereby at constant speed toward the cutting and folding mechanism.

The cutting mechanism comprises a rotary, traversing cutter disc 113 which is secured to a vertical shaft114, rotatably mounted in a carriage 115. The latter is slidably reciprocable on a horizontal guide bar 116 extending transversely between and suitably secured to the machine frame sides 111?. The carriage is reciprocated along the bar 115 by a suitable cam-actuated mechanism of the machine, operatively connected to a link 117 (FIG. 29) which is pivoted to the carriage as indicated at 113. The shaft 1-14 projects upwardly from the carriage 115 and has secured thereto a gear 119 which meshes with a toothed rack 12% extending transversely between the frame sides 110. Accordingly, when the carriage'115 is reciprocated, engagement of the gear i119 with the rack 129 will cause the cutter disc 13 to be rotated while traversing and cutting the web. A transverse backing bar 121 is provided for the cutter disc 113, the web to be out being disposed between an edge 122 of this bar and the cutter disc, as illustrated in FIGURES 25 and 28. The bar 121 has its end portions pivotally mounted by means of pins 123 on a pair of hell cranks 124, the latter being rotatably mounted by vertical pins 125 on a pair of angle brackets 126 carried by the 'frame sides 110. The bell cranks "124 are coupled together for simultaneous rotation by a tie rod 127 which is pivoted to the cranks at 128 and has connected thereto as at 129 an actuating link 13%, operatively connected to a suitable cam mechanism of the machine. As will be apparent from FIGURE 28, when the link 1130 is shifted in the direction of the arrow 131, the cranks 124 will be turned in the direction of the arrows 132, thus causing the bar 121 to be retracted horizontally away from the cutter disc 113 to the position shown in FIGURE 27. Converse ly, when the link 130 is shifted in the relatively opposite direction, the backing bar 121 will be moved toward the cutter disc so that the bar edge 1.22 holds the web 3% against the cutter disc and afiords proper backing for the edge of the disc to cut the web, as shown in FIGURES 25 and 26.

The web cutting mechanism also includes web clamping means which comprise a stationary angle bar 133 extend ing transversely between the frame sides 111i, and a coa'cting clamping bar assembly 134 (FIGS. 25 and 29). The

assembly 13 consists of a bar member 135 provided at its ends with stub shafts or trunnions 136 which are rotatably journalled in the frame sides "119 and one of which is provided with an actuating crank 137 (see FIGURE 29), for imparting a rocking movement to the assembly 134 as a whole. A sornewhat resilient but relatively rigid strip 138 is secured to the bar member 135 by a keeper strap 141) and the strip 138 has a free lower edge 14-1 which pressingly clamps the web 30 against the stationary bar 133 as shown in FIGURE 25, when the assembly 134 is rocked about the trunnions 137 in the direction of the arrow 142 in FIGURE 27. When the assembly 134 is rocked in the opposite direction, the strip edge 141 is moved away from 19 the bar 133 to release its clamping engagement with the web.

It may be explained at this point that when the web is clamped by the bar assembly 134 against the stationary bar 133, downward movement of the web is thus prevented while the web is being continuously fed by the rollers 55% and 111. This causes the portion of the web between the rollers and the clamping means to become slack and form a loop as indicated at 1 13 in FIGURE 27, and a transverse rest bar 144- is provided between the frame sides 110 above the cutting mechanism so that the loop 143 of the slack web may be supported by the rest bar and prevented from becoming entangled with the gear 119 and rack 12%. However, when the clamping means are released and the web is drawn downwardly as hereinafter explained, the loop and slackness in the web are taken up, as will be apparent from FIGURE 25.

Means are provided for gripping and pulling down the web between subsequent cutting operations, these means being similar to those disclosed for the same purpose in my aforementioned Patent No. 2,962,989. Such means include, as shown in FIGURES 27, 31 and 32, a vertically rreciprocable carrier 145 which is slidable in a guide 146 provided with laterally projecting support members 146a secured to the frame sides 11%. The carrier 1 55 is reciprocated by a link 14 7 which is operatively connected to a suitable cam-actuated mechanism of the machine, and the upper end of the carrier is provided with a transversely elongated head 148 carrying a row of transversely aligned, T-shaped gripper fingers 149. The grippers are pivotally mounted on a rod carried by the head 14-8 and are movable between gripping and nonagripping positions as shown, for example, in FTGURES and 26, respectively. 1n the gripping position, the fingers 149 clamp the Web against the head 14 8 and any suitable means may be utilized for moving the fingers in and out of the gripping position. For example, a pressure bar 151 extending transversely of and connected to the fingers may be provided at its ends with trunnions 152 which are slidable in a pair of vertical guides 153 of a U-shaped cross-section. The guides 153 themselves are movable horizontally, that is, toward and away from the carrier 145 and head 14% as indicated by the arrow 154 in FIG. 32, the guides being supported by horizontal pins 155 slidable in bores provided in the aforementioned support members 146a and in blocks 156 secured to the frame sides 111i. Horizontal movement is imparted to the guides 153 by cam-actuated links 157 and it will be understood from FEGURE 27 that when the guides 153 are moved horizontally away from the head .148, the bar 151 will cause the gripping fingers M9 to clamp the web against the head. Conversely, when the guides are moved toward the head, the gripping action of the fingers on the web will be released. it is to be noted that this actuation of the gripping fingers can be eiiected regardless of vertical reciprocation of the carrier 145 in the guide 146, that is, regardless of whether the gripping means 143, 14? are raised or lowered relative to the Web cutting mechanism, since the trunnions 152 are slidable vertically in the glides 153 and thus the bar 151 can actuate the fingers at any predetermined point in the vertical reciprocating movement of the gripper assembly.

The web folding mechanism is illustrated in FIGURES 25, 26, 27 and 33, the same comprising a horizontally reciprocable carrier 166 which is slidable on a guide bar 161 suitably supported by the machine frame. The carrier 1619 has secured thereto a creasing plate 162 having a free edge 163 engageable with the web 311. If desired, edge 163 of the creasing plate may be provided with a set of teeth or points 164 (see FIGURE 33) to engage the Web during the folding operation.

The carrier 166 is reciprocated toward and away from the Web by a cam-actuated link 165, and the creasing plate 162 cooperates with a pair of web folding bars 166, 167 which extend transversely of the machine. The bar 166 is rigidly supported by an angle bar or cross member 168 secured at its ends to the frame sides 111), but the bar 167 is fioatingly mounted above the bar 166 by a pair of upstanding pins 169 which project from the end portions of the bar 166 and are slidably received in apertures provided in the bar 167. Compression springs 169 are positioned on the pins 169 between the bars 166 and 167, so that the bar 167 is supported in up wardly spaced relation from the bar 166. The space between the bars is horizontally aligned with the plane of reciprocation of the creasing plate 1-62 and when the carrier 16% is slid on the guide 161 in the direction of the arrow 171 in FIGURE 27, the plate 162 enters the space between the bars 166, 167 as illustrated in FIGURE 26.

The operation of the web cutting and folding mechanism may now be explained on the basis of the foregoing description of its structure, before continuing with a description of the remaining components of the machine.

Referring first to FIGURE 25, it will be noted that the drawstring-equipped web 3% has been gripped at its leading end portion 171 by the gripping means 148, 149 and has been drawn downwardly by the gripping means past the folding bars 166, 167 and past the edge 163 of the creasing plate 162, the latter having been retracted away from the bars 166, 167, or two the left as viewed in FEGURE 25. The backing bar 121 has: been moved against the web, that is, toward the cutter disc 113, and the clamping bar assembly 134 has been rocked about the trunnions 136 so that the strip edge it l-1 presses the web against the stationary bar 133 With the parts in this position, the cutter carrier begins to slide along the guide 116, causing the cutter disc 113 to rotate and traverse the Web, cutting the web against the backing bar 121 so as to sever a length of the web from its running length. As already noted, the disc 113 cuts not only the web but also the drawstring in the hem of the web at a point between two adjacent loops 34, that. is, along the line 35 as indicated in FIGURE 1.

As the cutter disc completes its out, the gripper means 148, 149 are released from the end portion 171 of the cut Web and simultaneously, the carrier 16% is advanced toward the web so that the edge 163 of the creasing plate 162 engages the cut length of the web midway between its out ends. Continued advancing movement of the creasing plate causes the cut length of the web to double itself on the creasing plate as the latter with the web enters the space between the folding bars 166, 167, as illustrated in FIGURE 26. Thus, the cut length of the web is folded or doubled upon itself as shown in FIGURE 43, with the drawstring-equipped hems 31 superposed at the mouth of the bag unit and the loops 34 disposed adjacent the out side edges 35 of the bag unit. The folded bag unit is then picked up by conveyor means 172 hereinafter described, while the creasing plate 162 is retracted from between the bars 166, 167 and returned to its initial position shown in FIGURE 27. In the meantime, the clamping bar assembly 134 still continues to clamp the cut end of the running web against the bar 133 (FIG. 25) and the continuous driving action imparted to the web by the rollers 51), 111 thereafter causes it to form the slack or loop shown in FTGURE 27. Also, the gripper carrier 145 commences to travel upwardly and the backing bar 121 is retracted away from the cutter disc 113 while the cutter disc carriage 115 is returned to its initial position after the out already made. Retraction of the backing bar 121 provides clearance for the gripper means 148, 159 to arrive at their uppermost position adjacent the bar 133 as shown in FTGURE 27, and when the clamping action of the assembly 134 against the bar 133 is released, the gripper means 143, 14% are caused to grip the cut end of the web and to subsequently draw the web downwardly for the next cutting and folding operation. As the web is drawn down, the slack or loop 143 is taken up, and the member 141 of the clamping means again engages the web against the bar 33 as already explained.

The web folding operation is associated with insertion of the tag or label 49 between the folds of the bag unit (PEG. 33). For this purpose, a tag holding plate 173 (FIG. 25) is 'pivotally mounted as at 174 on the creasing plate 162 and is provided with an arm 175. A leaf spring 176 is interposed between the arm 175 and the plate 162 to normally urge the plate 173 against the plate 162. The arm 175 is engageable with a stationary cam member 177 carried by the machine frame, this engagement taking place when the carrier 16% is retracted to the position shown in FIGURE 27 and causing the plate 173 to be raised from the plate 162 to receive one of the tags ltl therebetween. The tags 4t) are supplied to the machine in a continuous strip form and after being cut, individual tags are fed to the creasing plate 162, one at a time, as the creasing plate advances from its retracted position toward the folding bars 166, 167. During the advancing movement of the creasing plate, the arm 175 becomes disengaged from the cam member 177 and the spring 176 presses against the tag on the plate 162 so as to hold the tag in position during folding of the web, so that when the web is folded into an individual bag member, the tag is disposed within the bag member, flush with its free bottom edges 35 as shown in FIGURE 3. The mechanism for feeding and cutting the tags it) is automatic in operation and coordinated with the web cutting and folding mechanism so that the tags are automatically inserted as the web is folded. As such, the tag cutting and feeding means may be the same as those disclosed in my aforementioned Patent No. 3,008,436. However, it may be noted that in the present machine the position of the tag in the bag may be adjusted transversely of the bottom of the bag by varying the effective stroke of the carrier 16% on the guide bar 161. That is to say, the cam-actuated link 165 of the carrier 169 may have a slot and screw adjustment (not shown) whereby the retracted position of the carrier on the bar 161 may be set so that the tag is fed to the creasing plate 162 at a point where the creasing plate, during folding of the bag unit, places the tag at the desired location transversely of the bottom of the bag, this adjustability in the tag location being indicated by the arrows???" in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 42. As a result, it is possible to place the tag in the bag unit either centrally of the bottom, or closer to the folded edge 37' or closer to the free side edges 35.

After being folded, the individual bag units are picked up by the conveyor means 172 which consist of a set of parallel endless belts 178 passing around rollers 17%, 18% mounted on shafts 181, 182, respectively, which are journalled in the frame sides lit} as is best shown in FIGURES 34 and 36. A rubber-covered roller 183 is mounted on a shaft 184 above the roller 179, the shafts of the two rollers being suitably driven by the gearing 185 so that when a folded bag unit emerges from the folding bars F166, 16 7, it passes between the rollers 179, 183 and is conveyed by the belts 173. A plurality of resilient fingers 1'36 serve to retain the bag units on the belts 178, these fingers being supported by a eCfOSS bar 187 extending between the frame sides Hi The upper runs of the belts 178 travel over a platform or table 1% carried by the machine frame, such platform or table having a lateral extension 139 projecting to one side of the machine.

A power driven sewin machine 1% is provided on the platform 18% adjacent the bar 187 for stitching together 7 the bottom edges 38 of the folded bag units 36 by a continuous seam or line of stitching 39 and a knife l l, pivotally mounted on the platfonm 138 as at 192 actuated by a link 193, is provided for cutting the continuous stitching 353 between the adjacent bag units 36 after the same have left the sewing machine 199.

The conveyor belts 178 deliver the bag units 36 to a transverse stop bar 1% provided at the end of the platform 138 and extending laterally along one side of the platform extension 189. As shown in FlG-URE 35, the

12 bar 1% provided with openings or'recesses 195 for passage of the belts 173 therethrough, and the platform extension 189 carries another sewing machine 1% which stitches together the cut side edges 35 of the bag units with a continuous seam 37.

The bag units 36 are delivered from the end of the platform 18%; to the sewing machine 196 on the platform extension 189 by a feeder assembly 197 illustrated in FIG- URES 34 and 37-40. This assembly includes a guide bar 198 which is pivoted at 199 to the machine frame for raising and lowering movement which is imparted thereto by a cam-actuated link 2% connected to a laterally projecting arm 2M secured to the free end of the bar 198. A slide block it?" is reciprocable on the bar 193 by a cam-actuated link 204 and an arm 295 is pivoted at 2% to the block 2%. The arm 235 carries a presser foot 267 which frictionally engages the bag unit 36 on the platform 188 at the stop bar 194 when the bar vwi l is lowered, and pushes the bag unit toward the sewing machine 195 on the platform extension 189 when the block 2% is slid along the bar 198 in that direction. After delivering the bag unit to the sewing machine, the bar 1% is raised to release the presser foot 267 from the bag unit and the block 2&3 is returned to its initial position. As such, the feeder assembly 197 is similar to that disclosed for the same purpose in my aforementioned Patent No. 3,008,- 436.

However, the feeder assembly 397 in this instance also includes means for pulling out the ends 34a of the drawstring loops 34 from the hems 3-1 of the bag unit, these means comprising an arm 263 which is pivoted at 209 for lateral swinging movement to the slide block 203. The free end of the arm Ztlti carries a downwardly extending stem 210 provided, as is best shown in FIGURE 40, with an inverted cup-shaped base 21-1 accommodating a fric tion disc 212. The intermediate portion of the arm 2% has rigidly secured thereto a link 213 equipped with an upstanding pin 2114 which slidably engages a cam track 215 formed in the underside of the bar 193. The cam track 215 is arranged so that when the slide block 203 is disposed on the bar 19% adjacent the bar pivot 199, the arm 2% is disposed laterally outwardly from the slide block, but when the slide block travels toward the free or outer end of the bar 1%, the arm 2% is moved laterally inwardly toward the block. Thus, when the slide block 263 is disposed adjacent the bar pivot 199 and is lowered for engagement of the presser foot 267 with the bag unit on the platform 188, the friction disc 212 comes to rest on the two superposed drawstring loops 34 of the bag unit and holds the same against the platform. Then, as the bag unit is propelled onto the platform extension 18? by sliding of the block 203 along the bar 1198, the friction disc 21-2 continues to hold the loops 34 against the platform. With the bag unit being propelled in a straight line as indicated at 213 in FIGURE 41, engagement of the pm 2.14 with the cam track 215 causes the friction disc 212 to move laterally inwardly toward the block 293 as indicated at 216, with the result that the friction disc pulls out the loose ends 34a of the drawstring loops 34 from the hem 31 and by the time the bag unit reaches the sewing machine 196, the loops 34 are transformed into free drawstring ends 34b which may be subsequently pulled and tied to close the mouth of the bag. In this connection it is particularly noted that the lateral inward movement of the disc 212 as above described causes the free drawstring ends 34b to be disposed within the width of the bag and out of the way of the presser foot 207 which feeds the bag to the sewing machine 196, so that there is no possibility of the stitching 37 made by the machine 1% crossing the drawstring ends.

The finished bags leave the machine connected by the continuous stitching 3.7, with the free drawstring ends 34b, and with the tag 49 secured inside the bag by the stitching 39 made by the sewing machine 1%. As such, the finished bags may be separated after leaving the machine 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING BAGS WITH A DRAWSTRINGEQUIPPED MOUTH, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR FORMING A HEM AT ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF A RUNNING WEB AND INSERTING A DRAWSTRING INTO THE HEM WITH THE DRAWSTRING HAVING PAIRS OF LOOPS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE HEM AT SPACED INTERVALS, MEANS FOR CUTTING THE WEB TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN THE LOOPS IN EACH PAIR TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL LENGTHS OF WEB EACH HAVING A COMPLETE DRAWSTRING LOOP ADJACENT ITS TRANSVERSELY CUT EDGE, AND MEANS FOR DOUBLING THE INDIVIDUAL WEB LENGTHS UPON THEMSELVES TO FORM INDIVIDUAL BAG UNITS EACH HAVING FREE SUPERPOSED TRANSVERSELY CUT SIDE EDGES, FREE BOTTOM EDGES AND DRAWSTRING-EQUIPPED MOUTH EDGES WITH SUPERPOSED LOOPS OF THE DRAWSTRING DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SIDE EDGES. 